Imagine Dragons Singer apologizes For Preaching Anti-Gay Messages

Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds has apologized for preaching Mormon teachings that homosexuality is a sin.

Reynolds was honored with the Hero awardÂ for the Trevor Project and in his acceptance speech, he admitted he wasnât always accepting of the LGBT community.

âI knocked on thousands of doors. For those two years when people asked me what the doctrine was and they said, âHey, Iâm gay,â I thought that it was a sin because thatâs what I had been raised to teach,â Reynolds, who is Mormon, told the crowd.Â âI hold regret about that until this day. I wish I could re-knock on those doors and tell them I was wrong. I canât do that. All I can do is come forward to you today and say Iâm sincerely sorry.â

The singer credits his wife, Aja Volkman, for changing his viewpoint.

âShe taught me what I already knew in my heart, which is to be gay is beautiful,â Reynolds says.

He also told Billboard that he received letters from gay fans after the Imagine Dragonsâ song âItâs Timeâ appeared on âGleeâ. In the episode, Blaine (Darren Criss) sings the song to his boyfriend, Kurt (Chris Colfer). Fan reactions led Reynolds to realize that he needed to speak up on the issue.

âOne of the reasons Iâve felt such a need to speak out on this is Iâve gotten countless emails and letters from fans around the world who said, âIâm gay, but I know youâre Mormon so that probably means you donât accept my lifestyle, but I love âItâs Timeâ and your music.â That was devastating and it broke my heart to get letters like that. Iâve written back to these people to tell them, âNo, I do support you and Iâm here for you,'â Reynolds told Billboard.

Reynolds is now organizing Love is Loud, a concert to benefit the LGBT community, on Aug. 26, 2017 inÂ Provo, Utah. Proceeds will benefitÂ Encircle, Stand4Kind, GLAAD and the Trevor Project. Neon Trees lead singer Tyler Glenn, an out Mormon, will also perform.